Tryouts an essential part of NAHL Draft and roster selection

May 21, 2015

One of the essential parts of the team building process each year in the NAHL are tryout camps that lead up to the NAHL Draft. Not only do tryout camps give coaches and scouts a look at prospective and future talent, but it is one the main ways that players get noticed and then selected in the Draft.

The first three weeks of NAHL tryout camps are very important because they lead up to the NAHL Draft, which will be held on Tuesday, June 9th.

Because NAHL rules dictate that tryouts camps cannot be held until the season is completed, this weekend is the first opportunity for NAHL teams to hold tryout camps. There are 10 NAHL teams who are holding tryout camps this weekend and that list includes the Robertson Cup Champion Minnesota Wilderness, who won the trophy a mere five days ago.

When understanding why tryout camps are held, it is first important to understand how an NAHL roster is created. An NAHL roster is composed of several types of players: veterans, tenders, draft picks and those ‘free agents’ that are spotted at tryout camps.

In the end, tryout camps are a necessary component of developing an NAHL roster. Un-drafted and non-tendered players are eligible to try out for any NAHL team. Many free-agent players earn roster spots in tryout camps, and therefore are a very important part of an NAHL's recruiting process.

Here are some important reminders and informational bits about the draft:

When is the NAHL Entry Draft?

The 2015 NAHL Entry Draft will take place on Tuesday, June 9th at 1pm (central). The draft will be live on nahldraft.com and will be broadcast live on fasthockey.com.

Who is eligible for the NAHL Entry Draft?

Amateur players less than 21 years of age on December 31, 2015 who are not listed on an NAHL team roster or are listed on an NAHL team roster but played less than (10) NAHL regular season and/or playoff games during the 2014-15 season and did not accept a tender from an NAHL team prior to the 2015 NAHL Entry Draft are eligible for selection in the draft.

Do I have to register for the draft?

No. If you are eligible for the draft, each team will draft individual players largely based upon scouting throughout the season and in pre-draft tryout camps based upon a team's needs.

How many players can each team select in the NAHL Entry Draft?

The number of players each team is able to draft varies on that team's current roster (protected list) minus the number 30. Each team's roster is comprised of veteran players and signed tenders only. For example, if a team has 15 veterans rostered and 8 tenders (23 total), that team is allowed seven (7) draft picks.

What is the order of the NAHL Entry Draft?

Eligible teams shall make selections in each round in reverse order of their finish in the 2014-15 NAHL regular-season standings. New member clubs shall have their order of selection determined by lottery. If there is only one new member club, it shall have the first selection in each round.

Do prospective NAHL players have to register for the NAHL Entry Draft?

No, there is no registration process to be eligible for the NAHL Entry Draft.

Are drafted players eligible to try out for other NAHL teams?

Unless agreed upon in writing by the two NAHL teams, tendered or drafted players are not eligible to try out for other NAHL teams.

Are drafted players eligible to try out for teams in other junior leagues?

Yes, all tendered and drafted players are eligible to try out for any team in any league other than the NAHL in the U.S. and Canada.

Will the results of the NAHL Entry Draft be posted on NAHL.com?

Yes, the results of the NAHL Entry Draft will be posted on NAHLDraft.com in alphabetical order in its entirety upon completion.

Will the NAHL Entry Draft be broadcast?

Yes, the NAHL Entry Draft is scheduled to be broadcast with live round-by-round coverage on FASTHockey, official broadcast partner of the NAHL.

Will all NAHL tenders signings be posted on NAHL.com?

No, all tender signing will not be posted on NAHL.com. NAHL teams may make their tender signings public, but are not required to do so.

What if a prospective player is not drafted, but is still interested in playing the NAHL?

Players not drafted but who still want to play in the NAHL are encouraged to attend individual team's open tryout camps. NAHL tryout camp information